Intimacy “In-To-Me-See”
The last two days I’ve been blogging about “coming clean” in our lives, even to the point of having a heavenly spotlight that reveals the crud inside us. AND, that is opening up the “cover-ups”! That is called intimacy — in-to-me-see!
So how can anyone “see into” us with our dreams, hopes and desires unless we know who we are and are willing to allow someone in? Experiencing true intimacy begins by connecting our heart in full expression to our Heavenly Father.
Because God made us, He intimately knows us better than anyone else can. He sees inside us and knows who we really are. He sees “into” us and draws us closer to Him through His Son Jesus.
In this February “Love” month, with just a few days remaining, we may have acknowledged our love for a special someone in sweet treats, flowers, tangible gifts, and cards that express in words what may be difficult to conjure up on our own. I am reminded of this love month each time I go in and out my front door. My Valentine’s décor will be up until March 1st.
This blog is a reminder that the intimacy and love given to us by God – keeps on keeping on. His greatest commandment is this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.” (Matthew 22:37). So simple, so important, so transforming. This is the one thing God most desires.
How DO we go from “believing in God” to REALLY falling in love with Him – being INTIMATE with Him? Since He “sees into” me and knows me – so much so that He knows the number of hairs on my head (Matthew 10:20), how much more should I crave to “see into” God’s heart and grow my heart of love for Him.
Here’s how to keep growing our intimacy with God:
1) Think about Him. That’s one of the easiest things to do because everywhere we look — He is there. The more we think about Him, acknowledge His presence in our lives, the more we will recognize Him in EVERYTHING — people, nature, and circumstances.
I think about how amazing He is as my Creator and how selfless He is as my Savior. I contemplate how incredible it is that the God of the universe cares about me – is INTIMATE with me.
2) Continually tell Him how much we love Him and why.
3) Spend time in His presence. No INTIMATE relationship can grow without time spent together. The same is true with our relationship with God. When we determine to set aside specific time with Him to pray, share, express gratitude to Him, then our love for Him increases.
4) Endeavor to do everything out of love for Him — from serving and volunteering, to everyday tasks and chores. Every moment of our lives, if offered to God and done to serve Him, is holy. When we choose to do a task out of love for God, our love for Him grows and our INTIMACY grows.
I know I am still walking out my own faith journey, but I sincerely feel I am on assignment to urge others to fall in love with God, too – to become INTIMATE with Him. It is one of the most important trademarks of a Christian — to help others learn to love Him with all their hearts. And the best way to teach others is to model OUR love for God.
My prayer is that we all experience the joy that comes from an intimate relationship with God. Every day with Him gets sweeter and sweeter and the peace, joy, hope and the abundant life becomes lighter and so much brighter.